View source for Blinded by the Light (2019 film)

{{short description|2019 film directed by Gurinder Chadha}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Blinded by the Light
| image          = Blinded by the Light (2019 film poster).png
| caption        = UK theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Gurinder Chadha]]
| producer       = {{Plainlist|
* Jane Barclay
* Gurinder Chadha
* Jamal Daniel
}}
| writer         = {{Plainlist|
* [[Paul Mayeda Berges]]
* Gurinder Chadha
* [[Sarfraz Manzoor]]
}}
| based_on       = {{Based on|''Greetings from Bury Park: Race, Religion and Rock N' Roll''|Sarfraz Manzoor}}
| starring       = {{plainlist|
* [[Viveik Kalra]]
* [[Kulvinder Ghir]]
* Meera Ganatra
* [[Nell Williams]]
* Aaron Phagura
* [[Dean-Charles Chapman]]<!--PER POSTER BILLING BLOCK-->
}}
| music          = [[A. R. Rahman]]
| cinematography = [[Ben Smithard]]
| editing        = Justin Krish
| studio         = {{Plainlist|
* Levantine Films
* [[Ingenious Media]]
* Bend It Films
* Cornerstone Films
}}
| distributor    = [[Entertainment One]] (United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand)<br>[[New Line Cinema]]<br>[[Warner Bros. Pictures]] (Select territories)
| released       = {{film date|2019|1|27|[[2019 Sundance Film Festival|Sundance]]|2019|8|9|United Kingdom|2019|8|14|United States|df=y}}
| runtime        = 117 minutes<ref>{{cite web|title=''BLINDED BY THE LIGHT (2019)'' (12A)|url=https://bbfc.co.uk/releases/blinded-light-film|work=[[British Board of Film Classification]]|access-date=30 July 2019|archive-date=3 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803171221/https://bbfc.co.uk/releases/blinded-light-film|url-status=live}}</ref>
| country        = United Kingdom<br>United States
| language       = English
| budget         = $15 million
| gross          = $19.6 million<ref name="NUM">{{Cite web|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Blinded-by-the-Light-(UK)-(2019)|title=Blinded by the Light (2019) – Financial Information|website=[[The Numbers (website)|The Numbers]]|access-date=13 October 2019|archive-date=1 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701160943/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Blinded-by-the-Light-(UK)-(2019)|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="BOM">{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1409910273/?ref_=bo_yld_table_84|title=Blinded By the Light (2019)|website=[[Box Office Mojo]]|publisher=[[IMDb]]|access-date=4 January 2020|archive-date=11 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811093045/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1409910273/?ref_=bo_yld_table_84|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
'''''Blinded by the Light''''' (also known as '''''Music of My Life''''') is a 2019 [[comedy-drama]] film directed by [[Gurinder Chadha]]. It was inspired by the life of journalist [[Sarfraz Manzoor]] and his love of the works of [[Bruce Springsteen]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ehrlich |first1=David |title='Blinded by the Light' Review: An Ecstatic Story About the Power of Springsteen — Sundance |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/01/blinded-by-the-light-review-bruce-springsteen-sundance-1202039248/ |website=[[IndieWire]] |access-date=1 July 2019 |language=en |date=28 January 2019 |archive-date=22 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722203431/https://www.indiewire.com/2019/01/blinded-by-the-light-review-bruce-springsteen-sundance-1202039248/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Tartaglione |first1=Nancy |title=Gurinder Chadha's 'Blinded By The Light' Blessed By Bruce Springsteen; Cast Set |url=https://deadline.com/2018/04/blinded-by-the-light-gurinder-chadha-bruce-springsteen-blessings-hayley-atwell-cast-first-look-photo-1202362218/ |access-date=1 July 2019 |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=11 April 2018 |archive-date=1 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701012117/https://deadline.com/2018/04/blinded-by-the-light-gurinder-chadha-bruce-springsteen-blessings-hayley-atwell-cast-first-look-photo-1202362218/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/jul/27/sarfraz-manzoor-bruce-springsteen-and-amolak-changed-my-life|title=Bruce Springsteen changed my life... and so did my best friend Amolak|last=Manzoor|first=Sarfraz|date=27 July 2019|work=The Observer|access-date=29 July 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0029-7712|archive-date=29 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729162557/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/jul/27/sarfraz-manzoor-bruce-springsteen-and-amolak-changed-my-life|url-status=live}}</ref> Manzoor co-wrote the script<ref name="Graun">{{cite news |last1=Lee |first1=Benjamin |title=Blinded by the Light review – Bruce Springsteen inspires mawkish misfire |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/jan/28/blinded-by-the-light-review-bruce-springsteen-inspires-sentimental-misfire |access-date=29 January 2019 |work=The Guardian |date=28 January 2019 |archive-date=28 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190128231459/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/jan/28/blinded-by-the-light-review-bruce-springsteen-inspires-sentimental-misfire |url-status=live }}</ref> with Chadha and [[Paul Mayeda Berges]]. It is based on Manzoor's 2007 memoir ''Greetings from Bury Park: Race, Religion and Rock N' Roll''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/blinded-by-the-light-sarfraz-manzoor-interview-how-bruce-springsteen-inspired-new-film-2019-08-17/|title=How Sarfraz Manzoor's love for Bruce Springsteen's music inspired "Blinded by the Light"|work=CBS This Morning|date=17 August 2019|access-date=20 August 2019|archive-date=17 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190817205826/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/blinded-by-the-light-sarfraz-manzoor-interview-how-bruce-springsteen-inspired-new-film-2019-08-17/|url-status=live}}</ref> Set in the town of [[Luton]] in 1987 Britain, the film tells the [[coming-of-age story]] of Javed, a [[British-Pakistani]] [[British Muslim|Muslim]] teenager whose life is changed after he discovers the music of Springsteen. [[Viveik Kalra]] stars in the lead role, along with [[Hayley Atwell]], [[Rob Brydon]], [[Kulvinder Ghir]] and [[Nell Williams]] in supporting roles.
The film premiered at the [[2019 Sundance Film Festival]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-doc-dianne-feinstein-drama-sundance-2019-lineup-1164468 |title=Sundance Unveils Politics-Heavy Lineup Featuring Ocasio-Cortez Doc, Feinstein Drama |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=28 November 2018 |access-date=17 January 2019 |archive-date=14 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190114160143/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-doc-dianne-feinstein-drama-sundance-2019-lineup-1164468 |url-status=live }}</ref> and was released by [[Entertainment One]] in the United Kingdom on 9 August 2019, and [[New Line Cinema]] in the United States and other countries<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/02/blinded-by-the-light-new-line-15-million-dollar-sundance-deal-bruce-springsteen-gurinder-chada-1202543683/ |title=New Line Confirms $15M Deal For Bruce Springsteen-Infused 'Blinded By The Light' |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=February 2019 |access-date=12 February 2019 |archive-date=11 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190211195320/https://deadline.com/2019/02/blinded-by-the-light-new-line-15-million-dollar-sundance-deal-bruce-springsteen-gurinder-chada-1202543683/ |url-status=live }}</ref> on 16 August 2019 via parent company [[Warner Bros. Pictures]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pedersen |first1=Erik |title=Warner Bros' Sesame Street Pic Moved Back Five Months; 'Just Mercy' Gets Christmas Limited Release |url=https://deadline.com/2019/07/sesame-street-release-date-warner-bros-just-mercy-blinded-by-the-light-1202647181/ |access-date=17 July 2019 |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=16 July 2019 |language=en |archive-date=16 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716204713/https://deadline.com/2019/07/sesame-street-release-date-warner-bros-just-mercy-blinded-by-the-light-1202647181/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Blinded by the Light'' received positive reviews from critics, and also received nominations for Best Film and Best Actor (for Kalra) at the [[Seattle International Film Festival|2019 SIFF Awards]].
==Plot==
In 1987, Javed Khan and his family – [[British Pakistanis|Pakistani migrant]] parents Malik and Noor and sisters Yasmeen and Shazia – live in [[Luton]], England, during the [[premiership of Margaret Thatcher]]. Javed likes contemporary [[rock music]], which Malik disapproves of. Javed writes poetry and lyrics for his best friend Matt's band, but Matt criticises Javed's work for being depressing.
Javed feels out of place at his new [[sixth-form college]], where he is one of two [[British Asian|South Asian]] students; the other, Roops, is a fan of "[[Bruce Springsteen|The Boss]]". In Ms Clay's writing class, Javed develops a crush on a student activist named Eliza and becomes interested in writing as a career. Javed talks to Ms Clay after class about his poetry and diaries. During lunch, Roops approaches him and gives him two Bruce Springsteen [[cassette tape]]s, calling Springsteen "the direct line to all that is true in this shitty world." Javed faces constant racism from his peers and neighbours, and Malik forbids him to socialise, insisting he "follow the Jews" in his college because of their success as a people.
Javed is denied any opportunity to write for the school paper. [[Vauxhall Motors]] lays off much of their workforce, including Malik who had worked there for sixteen years. His mother takes on extra sewing work to pay the bills. Frustrated by racism and Malik's inability to understand him, Javed discards his poems on the night of the [[great storm of 1987]]. After listening to the Springsteen tapes, the lyrics speak to him, and he recovers his poems. At college, Javed excitedly tells Roops that Springsteen knows exactly how he feels. Inspired to continue writing, he shares his poetry with Ms Clay. A neighbour, Mr Evans, recovers one of Javed's poems that decries the [[National Front (UK)|National Front]] as 'scum'. As a [[Second World War]] ex-serviceman, Mr Evans sympathizes with Javed's feelings and calls the poem brilliant, but Javed's parents are less appreciative.
Javed submits a piece about Springsteen to the newspaper, which is accepted. Malik is worried about finding the money for Yasmeen's wedding. Javed takes a Saturday job with Matt's father, also a Springsteen fan, on his market stall. Matt's father helps Javed impress Eliza by [[serenading]] her with a Springsteen song. In the process, Javed upsets Matt by seeming to side with his father as he taunts Matt about his poor musical taste and his band.
Javed asks out Eliza and steeling his nerves with Springsteen songs, the two enjoy a night out and kiss. Javed is inspired to write his own poems about Eliza, which she loves. Ms Clay enjoys his poems and article and arranges an unpaid internship for Javed at the ''Herald''. Malik and his wife have to sell her dowry jewellery presumably to cover his lost wages. Malik does not help his wife with the sewing even though he insists Javed and his sisters help. Javed points this out when his dad objects to him taking the unpaid work experience and his dad responds by saying his biggest mistake was moving to Britain.
Javed learns of growing tensions between the Muslim community and the National Front, who have organized a march and hung a pig's head at the local [[Mosque]]. Eliza invites Javed to dinner with her conservative and racist parents who imply that she is only with him out of rebellion. Javed later mentions this and says he does not care if she is with him for that reason.
At the ''Herald'', Javed gets paid after an article he wrote about racism is chosen for the front page and decides to use the money to buy tickets for a Springsteen concert. On the morning of his sister's wedding, while Javed runs to the shops to buy tickets, his family arrives separately at the venue and National Front members assault Malik. Upset that Javed withheld money from the family and had dishonoured Malik and the wedding, Malik tells Javed to surrender the tickets, but Javed says the tickets are his and they fight. Malik says Javed will go to a university in Luton and Javed states that Luton does not have a university and that he will go to the [[University of Manchester]] instead. At this, Malik rips up the tickets. Having had enough of his father, Javed pushes and stuns Malik by telling him he does not want to be his son as he wants to be more than that.
At school, Eliza chastises Javed for abandoning his family on his sister's wedding day, and then for using his family as an excuse for no longer seeing her. In class, Ms Clay tells Javed that his Springsteen essay won him attendance to a lecture at [[Monmouth University|Monmouth College]] in [[New Jersey]], near where Springsteen grew up. Javed initially declines, knowing his father will not allow him to go, but later changes his mind when he sees racist graffiti on their home. Malik says America is a bad place and tells Javed that if he leaves, he will not be allowed to return.
Javed and Roops enjoy an inspiring trip to the States. Back home, with Javed staying with Roops, Noor tells Malik to reconcile with Javed and reminds him that he left his own family and country at a young age and that she and Malik will ultimately lose Javed should Malik refuse. When Javed is asked to read his essay at a school event, Eliza recruits Javed's family to show up in support. Instead of reading his original essay, Javed talks about being "[[Blinded by the Light]]" of Springsteen and his own dreams and being willing to abandon his friends and family along the way. He recognizes his father's struggles and the way his community has shaped him, saying he must "build a bridge to my ambitions, but not a wall between my family and me." Everyone is moved. Javed reconciles with Eliza and thanks her for inviting his family. Malik reconciles with Javed and tells him that he has read Springsteen's lyrics and admires the themes of working hard and respecting one's family. Before going to Manchester, Javed sells his Springsteen memorabilia to reclaim his mother's jewellery. As Javed leaves for university, he and Malik listen to Springsteen together.
==Cast==
<!--- Cast and order per tombstone closing credits, roles per closing credits scroll --->
{{Cast listing|
* [[Viveik Kalra]] as Javed Khan
** Ronak Chadha Berges as ten-year-old Javed
* [[Kulvinder Ghir]] as Malik Khan, Javed's father
* Meera Ganatra as Noor Khan, Javed's mother
* [[Nell Williams]] as Eliza
* [[Jeff Mirza]] as Mr Shah
* Aaron Phagura as Roops
* [[Dean-Charles Chapman]] as Matt
** [[Billy Barratt]] as ten-year-old Matt
* Nikita Mehta as Shazia Khan, Javed's sister
* Tara Divina as Yasmeen, Javed's cousin
* [[David Hayman]] as Mr Evans
* [[Sally Phillips]] as Mrs Anderson
* [[Marcus Brigstocke]] as Robert, Eliza's father
* [[Olivia Poulet]] as Frances, Eliza's mother
* Frankie Fox as Colin Hand
* [[Rob Brydon]] as Matt's father
* [[Hayley Atwell]] as Ms Clay
* [[Lorraine Ashbourne]] as Kathy
}}
==Soundtrack==
Springsteen allowed twelve of his songs to be used in the soundtrack and it features several Springsteen rarities, including the first performance of "[[The River (Bruce Springsteen song)|The River]]", from the [[No Nukes]] concerts at [[Madison Square Garden]] in 1979 and an acoustic rendition of "[[The Promised Land (Bruce Springsteen song)|The Promised Land]]" that Springsteen performed in 2014 at Washington, D.C.'s [[National Mall]]. The soundtrack also showcases a number of Springsteen's classics such as "[[Badlands (Bruce Springsteen song)|Badlands]]", "[[Hungry Heart]]" and a 1975 acoustic recording of "[[Thunder Road (song)|Thunder Road]]" performed at [[The Roxy Theatre]].
The soundtrack contains a previously unreleased Springsteen song "I'll Stand by You", which was originally written for inclusion in [[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)|''Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'']].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lifton |first1=Dave |title=The Story Behind Every Bruce Springstein Song in 'Blinded by the Light' |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/blinded-by-the-light-soundtrack-songs/ |website=ultimateclassicrock.com |access-date=4 July 2019 |archive-date=30 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730180742/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/blinded-by-the-light-soundtrack-songs/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Track listing===
{{Track listing
| headline = ''Blinded by the Light: Music from the Motion Picture''
| extra_column = Artist
| title1 = Ode to Javed / Javed's Poem
| extra1 = [[A.R. Rahman]]
| title2 = [[It's a Sin]]
| extra2 = [[Pet Shop Boys]]
| title3 = [[The Sun Always Shines on T.V.]]
| extra3 = [[a-ha]]
| title4 = The Boss of Us All
| note4 = <small>dialogue</small>
| title5 = [[Dancing in the Dark (Bruce Springsteen song)|Dancing in the Dark]]
| extra5 = [[Bruce Springsteen]]
| title6 = You Should Be Listening to Our Music
| note6 = <small>dialogue</small>
| title7 = I Never Knew Music Could Be Like This
| note7 = <small>dialogue</small>
| title8 = [[The River (Bruce Springsteen song)|The River]]
| note8 = <small>live at Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, 21 September 1979; previously unavailable on an album</small>
| extra8 = Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
| title9 = Number One Paki Film
| note9 = <small>dialogue</small>
| title10 = [[Badlands (Bruce Springsteen song)|Badlands]]
| extra10 = Bruce Springsteen
| title11 = [[Cover Me (Bruce Springsteen song)|Cover Me]]
| extra11 = Bruce Springsteen
| title12 = [[Thunder Road (song)|Thunder Road]]
| note12 = <small>live at The Roxy Theater, West Hollywood, CA, 18 October 1975</small>
| extra12 = Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
| title13 = Get Outta My Way Fascist Pigs
| extra13 = [[Amer Chadha-Patel]]
| title14 = Do It for Me
| note14 = <small>dialogue</small>
| title15 = [[Prove It All Night]]
| extra15 = Bruce Springsteen
| title16 = [[Hungry Heart]]
| extra16 = Bruce Springsteen
| title17 = You, Me and Bruce
| note17 = <small>dialogue</small>
| title18 = [[Because the Night]]
| extra18 = Bruce Springsteen
| title19 = Maar Chadapa
| extra19 = [[Heera Group UK|Heera]]
| title20 = [[The Promised Land (Bruce Springsteen song)|The Promised Land]]
| note20 = <small>live on the National Mall, Washington, DC, 11 November 2014</small>
| extra20 = Bruce Springsteen
| title21 = [[Blinded by the Light]]
| extra21 = Bruce Springsteen
| title22 = [[Born to Run (Bruce Springsteen song)|Born to Run]]
| extra22 = Bruce Springsteen
| title23 = I'll Stand by You
| note23 = <small>previously unreleased studio recording</small>
| extra23 = Bruce Springsteen
| title24 = For You My Love
| note24 = <small>new original song for film</small>
| extra24 = [[A.R. Rahman]]
}}
==Reception==
===Box office===
''Blinded by the Light'' grossed $19.6 million worldwide.<ref name="NUM"/>
In Canada and the United States, the film was released alongside ''[[Where'd You Go, Bernadette (film)|Where'd You Go, Bernadette]]'', ''[[47 Meters Down: Uncaged]]'' and ''[[Good Boys (film)|Good Boys]]'', and was projected to gross around $4 million from 2,307 cinemas in its opening weekend.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/box-office-good-boys-angry-birds-2-1203300963/ |title=With Five More New Releases, Can Any Movie Break Through at the Box Office in August|last=Rubin |first=Rebecca |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=13 August 2019 |access-date=13 August 2019 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190813232340/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/box-office-good-boys-angry-birds-2-1203300963/ |archive-date=13 August 2019 }}</ref> It made $1.4 million on its first day, and went on to debut to $4.5 million, finishing ninth. Rival studios argued that Warner Bros. should have begun with a limited release to build audience interest, and that the film's August date was too close to that of ''[[Yesterday (2019 film)|Yesterday]]'', a film that also depicts a young [[British Asian]] male inspired by a classic popular music act.<ref name="opening">{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/08/good-boys-hobbs-shaw-47-meters-down-uncaged-scary-stories-weekend-box-office-1202669605/|title=How Universal Is Reviving The R-Rated Comedy & Making 'Good Boys' Great At The B.O. With A $21M Opening|last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=18 August 2019 |access-date=18 August 2019 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816150321/https://deadline.com/2019/08/good-boys-hobbs-shaw-47-meters-down-uncaged-scary-stories-weekend-box-office-1202669605/ |archive-date=16 August 2019 }}</ref>
===Critical response===
On [[review aggregator]] [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film holds an approval rating of {{RT data|score}} based on {{RT data|count}} reviews, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. The site's consensus reads: "Like a life-affirming rock anthem, ''Blinded by the Light'' hits familiar chords with confidence and flair, building to a conclusion that leaves audiences cheering for an encore."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/blinded_by_the_light|title=Blinded by the Light (2019)|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]|access-date={{RT data|access date|df=dmy}}|archive-date=30 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430152959/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/blinded_by_the_light|url-status=live}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film has a [[weighted average]] score of 71 out of 100, based on 44 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/blinded-by-the-light|title=Blinded by the Light Reviews|work=[[Metacritic]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|access-date=16 August 2019|archive-date=19 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190919022621/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/blinded-by-the-light|url-status=live}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale, while those at [[PostTrak]] gave it an average 4.5 out of 5 stars.<ref name=opening/>
Johnny Oleksinski of ''[[The New York Post]]'' calls it "the feel-good movie of the year".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Oleksinski |first1=Johnny |title='Blinded by the Light' is already the feel-good movie of the year |url=https://nypost.com/2019/01/28/blinded-by-the-light-is-already-the-feel-good-movie-of-the-year/ |access-date=1 July 2019 |work=[[New York Post]] |date=29 January 2019 |archive-date=22 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722203736/https://nypost.com/2019/01/28/blinded-by-the-light-is-already-the-feel-good-movie-of-the-year/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Jordan Ruimy of ''[[The Playlist]]'' calls it "one of the most joyous and exhilarating movies you will see this year".<ref>{{cite web |title='Blinded By The Light': The Transformative Power Of Bruce Springsteen Fuels This Excellent Crowdpleaser [Sundance Review] |url=https://theplaylist.net/blinded-by-light-sundance-review-20190129/ |website=The Playlist |date=29 January 2019 |access-date=1 July 2019 |archive-date=1 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701012117/https://theplaylist.net/blinded-by-light-sundance-review-20190129/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Leah Greenblatt of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' calls it an ode to "the power of music".<ref>{{cite magazine |title='Blinded by the Light' is a tender, heartfelt ode to the music of Bruce Springsteen: Sundance review |url=https://ew.com/movie-reviews/2019/01/28/blinded-by-the-light-review/ |access-date=1 July 2019 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=28 January 2019}}</ref> Anthony Ray Bench of ''[[Film Threat]]'' calls it "a feel-good movie that tackles a bunch of tough topics, from politics, race, family traditions, social frustrations, and romance" yet "never feels preachy or overly cheesy."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bench |first1=Anthony Ray |title=Blinded by the Light |url=http://filmthreat.com/reviews/blinded-by-the-light/ |website=[[Film Threat]] |access-date=1 July 2019 |date=30 January 2019 |archive-date=1 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701020423/http://filmthreat.com/reviews/blinded-by-the-light/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Adam Chitwood of ''[[Collider (website)|Collider]]'' calls it "a rapturously joyous, heartfelt, and genuinely insightful film not just about The Boss, but about the personal nature and power of music."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chitwood |first1=Adam |title='Blinded by the Light' Review: A Joyous, Poignant Ode to Bruce Springsteen |url=http://collider.com/blinded-by-the-light-review/ |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |access-date=1 July 2019 |date=29 January 2019 |archive-date=1 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701021342/http://collider.com/blinded-by-the-light-review/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Owen Gleiberman of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' calls it "the sort of unguarded drama they used to ''make'' in the '80s — a coming-of-age tale of unabashed earnestness — but it's also a delirious and romantic [[rock 'n' roll]] parable" that is "a more incandescent ode to the life force of [[pop music]] than any film ever adapted from the work of [[Nick Hornby]]."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gleiberman |first1=Owen |title=Sundance Film Review: 'Blinded by the Light' |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/blinded-by-the-light-review-1203119930/ |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=1 July 2019 |date=28 January 2019 |archive-date=6 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706073837/https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/blinded-by-the-light-review-1203119930/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Bedatri Datta Choudhury of ''Vague Visages'' says that, while "Springsteen takes the [[American dream]] and helps everyone navigate through its dismantling," Chadha "makes it speak to an entirely different country and a whole new generation."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Choudhury |first1=Bedatri Datta |title=New York Indian Film Festival Review: Gurinder Chadha's 'Blinded by the Light' |url=https://vaguevisages.com/2019/05/13/what-would-springsteen-do-and-other-questions-gurinder-chadhas-blinded-by-the-light/ |website=Vague Visages |access-date=1 July 2019 |date=13 May 2019 |archive-date=1 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701021343/https://vaguevisages.com/2019/05/13/what-would-springsteen-do-and-other-questions-gurinder-chadhas-blinded-by-the-light/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
At the 2019 SIFF Awards in the [[Seattle International Film Festival]], ''Blinded by the Light'' received nominations for Best Film (for director Gurinder Chadha) and Best Actor (for Viveik Kalra).<ref>{{cite web |title=SIFF 2019 Award Winners |url=https://www.siff.net/media/press/press-releases/pr-siff-2019-award-winners |website=SIFF |publisher=[[Seattle International Film Festival]] |access-date=29 June 2019 |date=9 June 2019 |archive-date=29 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629073150/https://www.siff.net/media/press/press-releases/pr-siff-2019-award-winners |url-status=live }}</ref> In July 2019, Ethan Anderson of ''[[/Film]]'' listed ''Blinded by the Light'' as the eighth best film of 2019 so far.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Anderton |first1=Ethan |title=Ethan Anderton's Top 10 Movies of 2019 So Far |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/ethan-andertons-10-best-movies-of-2019-so-far/ |website=[[/Film]] |access-date=4 July 2019 |date=1 July 2019 |archive-date=2 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702154019/https://www.slashfilm.com/ethan-andertons-10-best-movies-of-2019-so-far/ |url-status=live }}</ref> A critics' survey by ''[[IndieWire]]'' listed ''Blinded by the Light'' as one of the eight best films of Summer 2019.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ehrlich |first1=David |title=The 8 Best Movies of Summer 2019 — IndieWire Critics Survey |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/08/best-movies-summer-2019-1202168759/ |access-date=27 August 2019 |work=[[IndieWire]] |date=26 August 2019 |archive-date=27 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827142119/https://www.indiewire.com/2019/08/best-movies-summer-2019-1202168759/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
* {{IMDb title}}
* {{Mojo title|blindedbythelight}}
{{Bruce Springsteen}}
{{Gurinder Chadha}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blinded By The Light}}
[[Category:2019 films]]
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[[Category:2010s coming-of-age comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:2010s English-language films]]
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[[Category:American coming-of-age comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:Films based on non-fiction books]]
[[Category:Films directed by Gurinder Chadha]]
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